Berkeley Home Contractors

Philippe J.

Verified review

Arisel handled a small hardwood repair job in our kitchen. First I'm grateful that he offered his services. Many contractors only bid big jobs. Second he followed on his commitments to me, being on time and following up the next day with a touch up. I did not have to follow up. He was good to work with. Third I think he did an excellent job with the conditions he had to deal with. I recommend him.

Christofer K.

Verified review

Ricardo has been great! First he installed our gas dryer. Arrived on time, finished his works quickly and handed over the receipt of materials he picked up at Home Depot. The following week he built a platform in our garage and finished the job quicker than expected. Again clearly detailing his material purchases. Highly recommended!

Connie V.

Verified review

Matthew Kelly is hardworking and honest. He strives to make the job go as well as possible. After other contractors said no or did not return my calls, he responded quickly on the weekend, and he completed the job in a timely manner. Matthew's operation is lean and responsive. He is pleasant to work with and has my recommendation.

Christina E.

Verified review

I've literally communicated with or contacted at least five contractors over the past two months to complete this flooring job. Salinas was an answer to prayer! Whereas other sites or contractors told me to wait and/or never got back to me or took others jobs, Vyron responded promptly within an hour when I posted the job on Thumbtack. Vyron and Pablo did excellent work putting down a new subfloor and plywood, then installing an LVP (see photos) and a new toilet (not pictured). Vyron communicated about every step of repair and installation and about every purchase for the job. He takes pride in his work and left the work area clean. I'm so glad that the job is finished and that it was done well.

Laura W.

Verified review

Pros: Jasper was prompt in responding, punctual, friendly, and completed the work quickly. I was impressed that he finished this project in one day; whereas other contractors seemed to indicate it was more work and more difficult. I would hire him again.
Some areas he can improve: There were a couple of minor areas that were knicked on our kitchen island that I didn't notice until cleaning up. Also, I think he could have done a little better cleaning up the island- wiping down the cabinet fronts that had a light layer of dust (I did this myself). Finally, I gave him a box of stain & top coat that the previous owners left to us. He applied them but I noticed they didn't leave the counter shiny, like the finish we had before he sanded. After Jasper left, my husband realized we were missing the water sealant coat which we had in the garage. So now we are applying this coat ourselves to make the island water- proof and give it the same shine. This isn't totally Jasper's fault since I gave him the supplies but I would have liked if he would have noted that something seemed to be missing or off (or given his recommendations on what he would have stained/sealed it with to make sure the wood stayed water proof.)
Overall, I'm happy with the work.

Ellen R.

Verified review

Bogdan was a gift. He and his team installed ~2000 SQft of Bamboo Hardwood floors, a marble entry way, tile floor in the laundry room and bath, built a tile shower from scratch, matched and installed granite in a half bath and full guest bath, and repaired several small but important plumbing issues along the way. Bogdan was respectful and considerate of our priorities. He worked with us with patience, always checking in to make sure we were happy with the choices and installation. For example, he was able to create a seamless transition between the tile and hardwood and marble that made a big difference in how the flooring flows- no tripping on t-moulding ! I would happily recommend Bogdan for home improvement projects.

Mark S.

Mekuria G.

Verified review

He helped us diagnose our electrical issues quickly and accurately. He was extremely professional and personable. Showed up right on-time and got straight to work.
We are now looking around our home to see what we can use his help with next.

Francisco S.

Verified review

Working with Juan was a terrific experience. He is very transparent about setting expectations: what is he going to do, how is going to do it and how long will it take.
He will get the work done in a timely and clean manner. We were able to book him in advance (which was about 2 weeks prior) but I understand he will do his best to accommodate clients on a shorter notice.
If you have been struggling with other handymen/contractors (as I was!) I truly recommend you to use Juan's services - he is super easy to work with and very reliable.

Billy S.

Verified review

I hired Scorpion Services to replace my roof. The roof was well over 30 years old. Carlos and Neema came to my house and were never pushy, and really knew what they were talking about. Unlike other contractors I had place bids, Carlos informed me about about the process and gave me a number of options that worked within my budget. They did such a great job on my roof, over the next 6 months I have hired them to redo my deck, repair siding that has dry rot, and replace my gutters. I would not hestitate to recommend them to every friend and family member I have. Some of the most honest and hard working people I have ever hired!!

Michell C.

Verified review

Yimi is a kind and talented craftsman, he is pleasure to have on the property and is hard working and does excellent work. We will hire him again in the future, we had a terrible experience with another contractor and then Yimi came and resolved all the issues. His workmanship is of high quality, and he is himself very honest and affordable. I recommend him highly, he swooped in and saved the day!

Natallia S.

Verified review

I hired them to lay the engineered bamboo floor in my condo. They did exactly what promised and in the time they originally specified. I have been doing remidelling and construction of my rentals and my resident for the last 10 years and very much familiar with the business. Out if many contractors or handymen i met Jason and Regina are the outstanding team. They work fast, they are very proactive and attentive to details. And their price was reasonable. What is the most important for me is that they do listen to my suggestions - not like many macho style contractors:). The floor work looks absolutely great and i am very happy. So that i would like to hire them for other work on my rental property.

Skye L.

Verified review

I'm a new homeowner in Oakland and needed an engineers help with drafting my floorplan for bathroom addition permits. I decided to hire individual contractors without paying the fees of a General Contractor. Oh did I get lucky to have found Mike who not only provided excellent service in drafting but also offered his expertise on design and construction. Mike assisted with my brainstorming and troubleshooting process beyond what I had expected. He was knowledgeable about city regulations and offered sound advice on where to locate fixtures. I appreciate working with Mike to jumpstart the project and would highly recommend him for drafting and engineering services.

Christina F.

Verified review

I was able to schedule estimates with 5 contractors for my bathroom remodel. Each definitely had their own approach with a few being extremely pushy trying to talk me into doing work I didn't want to do! I believe Green line was the 3rd appointment I had and Manuel Sr & his son Manuel Jr definitely stood out to my family and I. They listened to what we wanted, gave me a few options and honest recommendations (which actually involved less total work = less money). I really appreciated the honest no pressure approach. It was also very clear to me that they had a lot of experience because they were able to point out a few things that no other contractor brought to my attention.
Service:
I'd say the entire process was pretty seamless, Jr or Sr were always available through call or text, no issues with cleanliness or picking up materials. They use a progress payment system so we paid them as they completed certain phases of work which I really liked. They were able to recommend retailers for the finish materials which was very helpful.
Work Quality:
Craftsmanship excellent, tiles were set beautifully and look stunning. About half way through we decided to go with their recommendation of doing level 5 texture through the vanity area into the bathroom (which they gave a VERY good price for), this was a great suggestion as it really helps in bringing a cleaner modern look. Paint, vanity and fixture installation were all done very nicely. Over all very satisfied, we will be calling Green Line back to do the guest bath in a few months.
Price:
They were not the cheapest estimate I received. I decided to hire them because they felt trustworthy. Which is a hard thing to achieve after one meeting. However I am EXTREMELY pleased with the price I paid for the finished product. They explained to me in out initial meeting that this type of finish work requires a certain amount of money to do properly which I completely understand now. They were also not the most expensive which is surprising for the transformation they accomplished.
Thanks guys!
-Christina

Hila E.

Verified review

I really loved working with Jay and his team they were highly professional... They did a great job remodeling my kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. It's not the first time that I'm hiring a contractor and we had a bad experience, we will definitely use from now on Jay and his team

Mali E.

Verified review

We moved to California a few years ago, and were a little in the dark on who to go to when we purchased our home. Our freind recommended Bay Home Remodeling for our project, and we could not be more pleased with the work. They really took the reigns and completed an amazing project for us. Tom was prompt, organized, and a pleasure to work with. Our home built in the almost 100 years ago and had minimal renovations over the years. The team helped us create a beautiful design that opened up the floor plan, and completely remodeled the house based on our life style. Tom and Gal were the lead contractors on our job, and we loved having them at the house every day. We were actually very sad when they were finished because it meant they wouldn't be a part of our day to day life. The finished product is BEAUTIFUL. Everything was completed to perfection. They made the home new, while keeping the charm of the house. The team gave us great insights along the way. When we were stuck on a decision they guided us the right direction. I loved that Tom would always include his input when we were making a design decision. His expertise and experience was invaluable in making the right calls. We found that the selection of finishes from the Bay Home Remodeling partners excellent. We love the cabinetry, flooring, and counter top. Overall we could not be more pleased with our renovated home, and our time working with Bay Home Remodeling. We would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent team to remodel their home and definitely would use them on future projects.

Lina H.

Verified review

Aldo is absolutely wonderful to work with! We purchased our home in 2014 and he has led three different renovation projects for us since then. And, when we save up for our next round of renovations, we will certainly go to him again!
What we appreciate most about Aldo is his honesty and warm nature. He never led us astray, never tried to overcharge us, and never tried to get us to do more work than we needed do. He was open and upfront throughout the entire process for each project. He was also warm, friendly, and so easy to work with.
Before we started our first round of renovations, many people warned us about contractors who would extend timelines. But Aldo is amazing when it comes to timelines! He sticks to them!
We also love how responsive Aldo is. Whenever we texted him with questions or updates regarding our project, he immediately responded.
And this is all on top of doing beautiful work!!
We highly recommend Aldo!!

John D.

Verified review

Danial and his crew did fantastic work over my kitchen and master bed room remodeling.He is professional and responsible to do all faces of remodeling,I definitely suggest him as a licensed general contractor.

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

Why should you hire a contractor?

Hiring a general contractor is a good idea for many remodeling projects. Home renovation contractors have a broad range of skills to manage, coordinate and complete a project. They should help make sure your project comes in on time and within your budget as they hire and supervise all the necessary subcontractors, including electricians and plumbers. They also handle procuring all the materials required for your job. Some homeowners look to save money by acting as their own contractor, but an experienced home renovation contractor is worth the cost. They should know local building codes, be able to pull all necessary permits, and work with inspectors to make sure the construction meets local codes. Also, because they get professional discounts, they can typically buy materials at a better price than you can; better prices on materials and labor save you money, and make up for at least a percentage of the cost of the contractor.

What do construction project managers do?

Construction project managers help in all stages of your construction project, starting from the very first step. Typically paid a percentage of a total project cost, they are part of the design and planning process and help ensure seamless communication between the design parties and the construction team. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, their scope of work includes preparing cost estimates, budgets and work timetables; interpreting and explaining contracts and technical information to other professionals; reporting work progress and budget to clients; collaborating with architects, engineers and other construction pros; selecting subcontractors and scheduling and coordinating their tasks; responding to work delays, emergencies and other problems; and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations.

The work of construction project managers may seem very similar to that of general contractors, but there are some critical differences. One difference is that, unlike most general contractors, project managers are not engaged in the actual construction — they are onsite overseeing the work of subcontractors. Another key difference is that project managers are hired during the design phase, while general contractors are hired after plans have been made. The project manager is generally paid a percentage of the total project cost, while the general contractor is more typically paid according to the bid they gave to build your project.

What is a general contractor?

When starting a home remodel or new construction project, you will probably hire a general contractor. A general contractor is a professional who is qualified to take a set of building plans and construct them as outlined. The general contractor may help perform the day-to-day building, or they may just hire workers and oversee all the work activities. In either case, the job of the general contractor is to see that your project gets built.

When you have a building project, ask for bids from various contractors. The bids tell you how much each will charge and what their scope of work will be. Once you have selected a bid, you sign a contract with that general contractor outlining the specifics of the project and the milestones during the project when they will receive payment installments. Once the contract is official, the general contractor will bring in their crew to begin construction. The contractor will manage the workers and subcontractors (anyone who doesn’t work directly for their company but that they need to outsource, like a marble installation pro), order all the materials, obtain work permits, and confirm that all the workers and subcontractors are completing their projects as planned. They typically handle all the payments to the workers and subcontractors, and send you invoice. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor. If you are organized and competent to oversee construction projects, and are able to make sure everything is being built properly and meeting code, it’s possible you can be your own general contractor.

How do I find out if a contractor is licensed?

It’s important to know if your project requires work by a licensed professional, as licensing laws can vary by state, locality, and job details. You can find general licensing information online at the government websites that handle occupational licensing for a given profession in your state or location. Some states designate a project cost over which you have to hire a licensed contractor. To find qualified licensed contractors, search your state’s licensing board. For example, in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs operates a searchable database through the Contractors State License Board. In some states, contracting licenses are provided at a regional level. You can find links to specific databases on BRB Publications’ Occupational Licensing page. Red flags that a contractor may not be licensed or may be providing an expired or false license number are unreasonably low bids or a request for complete payment upfront. For more, check out our tips for smart hiring on Thumbtack.

How do you choose a commercial general contractor?

A commercial contractor provides similar services as a residential general contractor but specializes in working with large-scale projects for businesses, schools, nonprofits, governments and development firms. When researching commercial general contractors, review their portfolio of work and confirm they have ample experience working in the area you need. For example, if you are building a small strip mall, ask if the contractors have experience successfully incorporating all the needed elements such as a parking lot, meeting ADA requirements, accessing the proper permits, and completing work on time.

Once you’ve identified several qualified candidates, request bids for your project and then compare the scope of work with your needs and budget. Your commercial general contractor should oversee design, permitting, construction, materials purchase, and adherence to building code and zoning regulations, as well as sticking to an agreed-upon budget and schedule. It’s important to establish clear communication with your future commercial general contractor, as this will mean a smoother process for everyone. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor.